L.S. O'Dea's Blog, page 8

YP Comic Con

YP Comic Con at Forest High School in Ocala Florida last Saturday was a blast.  I met a lot of great folks and some other authors too.

This is a yearly event that raises money for the high school's library. I'd recommend that you stop by next year.

I was on two panels with three other local authors. It was a lot of fun getting to hear another author perspective on writing, editing, marketing, etc.

Below are some photos taken by my niece of my table and some of the other tables.  Actually, I took the photo of my table and made the kids turn around because their mom doesn't want their pictures on the Internet.

Free April 7th through 11th Rise of the River Man

Get your FREE copy of Conguise Chronicles: Rise of the River Man.  Sale begins on April 7, 2016 at 8:00 am PST and ends on April 11th at midnight PST.

This book is dark fantasy.  There's a mad scientist, crazy experiments, genetic mutation, monsters and even a love story. 

It a quick, short read but very good and very dark.

Get your copy today and if you like it, please write a review on Amazon.

Oregon just killed a family of wolves for something they might have done

They just shot down an old wolf, his mate and their pups because they think the wolves may have killed some calves. May have! I'm sick of our tax money paying for deaths of animals who MAY HAVE done something we consider bad. At least determine if you are killing the right animal. Just last year in Florida, they killed a few bears because they thought they were the ones getting into trash in a rich neighborhood. Well, they were wrong. They finally caught the bear and it was a young, female trying to feed her cubs. They killed two bears before catching her.

Strike Back Against Animal Abusers

Yesterday, I read and signed the petition that called for a stricter punishment for the two males (I refuse to call them men, because real men would not do what these males did) who tortured the bulldog named Baby.  (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/more-65000-people-sign-petition-7656452).

The problem with this petition is that the laws are not and never will be strong enough.  Even if these males are punished to the full extent of the law, it won’t be enough.  We, as a global society, need to push to have the laws against animal abusers strengthened. 

I believe, and many of you won’t agree with me, that the punishment in cases such as these should imitate the crime.  I truly think that these males should be taken into custody and then beaten as they beat Baby.  They should then be put into a room somewhere and left to suffer for three months.  There should be a few more beatings because I can’t be the only one who believes that this was not the first and probably not the last time that these males inflicted some sort of torture on that poor dog.  These guys should wait for three months, not knowing when they will be beaten again.  Then, once the time is over they should be euthanized.

My dream punishment may sound harsh to many of you, but these males did not accidentally hurt this dog.  They didn’t even kill it by neglect which is bad enough, but they beat and tortured this animal and enjoyed every minute of it.  There are certain actions that you cannot come back from and what they did is one of them.  They will never learn or understand that what they did was wrong.  They will never be beneficial members of society.  Think about it.  Would you want your daughter or sister dating one of them?  What about having either of them as your neighbor or co-worker? 

Here is where I make a plea.  Although, I honestly believe that the punishment that I outlined above is fair, I also know that the laws will never change that much.  However, we as a society can work around the laws without breaking them.  We can strike back and get some sort of justice for Baby.  If either or both of these males work for you, fire them.  You can find a way.  It should be easy.  I doubt that they’re model employees. 

Now, once they are jobless, the rest of you who are in a position to hire them—don’t.  Let their names become known and don’t give them a job, ever.  It would be great if they starved, but they won’t.  They’ll rob something or someone and then they can go to prison where they belong and hopefully, they’ll encounter a prisoner who loves animals.  Then, justice for Baby will be served.
It’s time that we strike back when the laws are not strong enough.  I’m not in any way asking anyone to break the laws, but there are ways to make someone’s life miserable within the law.  Let’s band together and do just that to these two deviants and to every other animal abuser. 

Gaar and Trinity VS Cold Creepers

If you've read Lake of Sins: Escape, you should recognize this scene.  I wrote this because throughout the book I mention how dangerous the woods are, but I hadn't shown that.  Well, I didn't want to disappoint, so this scene happened.

I think Neoxeven from Fiverr did a great job showing the creepiness of the Cold Creepers.

I'd love to hear what you think, whether you've read the book or not.

Old Phrases And Their Origins

One of the many rules of writing is not to use clichés.  Since I’ve been writing and editing (oh, so much editing), I have become very conscious of what I say – do I use the same word often, do I use clichés or popular phrases, am I concise and to the point or do I ramble, etc.  This has led me to research some phrases and I’m going to share that information with you.

Raining Cats and Dogs—homes used to have thatched roofs and animals would hide and nest there.  During heavy rains, the animals would either get washed out or flee and it would seem like it was raining cats and dogs.  Can you imagine seeing a bunch of critters jumping out of your home’s roof?  I guess back then you were used to it, but today it would scare the britches off a lot of us especially if it were rats and snakes instead of cats and dogs.

Rule of Thumb --This one my mother used when talking about the expiration of a can of tuna.  She said that she used the “rule of thumb” to decide if she should use the tuna or not.  I asked her to explain that because I truly didn’t understand since the origin of “the rule of thumb” is supposedly (although there is no written record) that an English judge ruled that a man could beat his wife with a stick as long as it was no thicker than his thumb.  Really makes me as a woman miss the Romantic period of our history.

In for a Penny, In for a Pound – again back in England the punishment for owing a penny was basically the same as for owing a pound.  The punishment for owing was harsh in the past.  Oddly, owing money (credit cards, mortgage, etc) is the norm today.  What does that tell us about modern life?

Warm the Cockles of My Heart – No definitive answer on this one.  Some think it could be that the mollusk cockles looks like a heart or it could be a corruption of a Latin word.  I’ve never been fond of this saying, using it more in jest.  I think it’s because I’ve never understood what cockles had to do with my heart.

Mad As A Hatter – This one is just lovely (a bit of sarcasm here). It seems that in the past mercury was used in the process of making hats and the poor folks who made hats for a living would get mercury poisoning and would tremble and could become aggressive.  Do any of you remember playing with mercury when you were young?  We didn’t do it every day, but if a thermometer broke, oh boy did we all have fun rolling that mercury around on our hands.  Ah, the good old days.

Well, that’s all for now.  I may research a few more later and share. Hope you enjoy.
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Sale: Lake Of Sins: Secrets In Blood

On Sale
March 1, 2016 (8:00 AM PST) through March 8, 2016 (12 AM PST)
For Only
99 cents

You can buy the Kindle version of the first two books in the series for less than the normal price of the second book.  Only $1.98 for both.

EATERS

I’m struggling today, not with writing but with food.  I’ve been on a diet for several weeks now.  In general it’s been going good, but the last two weeks I’ve only lost a total of 1.2 pounds (.6 each week).  I know as long as my weight is going down that is good, but it’s not good enough.  Not for me (I’m very competitive, especially with myself).

I decided that today I would teach my body a lesson for not cooperating with my weight loss goals and fast. I’m not talking about one of my regular fasts from dinner to dinner, but a fast from dinner Sunday to breakfast Tuesday.  I’ve done it before, but it makes for a long day.  Of course, I’ve been trying to talk myself out of this decision all day.  I really want to eat dinner. I mean I really, really want to eat.

It doesn’t help that I’m approaching the time of my period. Not that starting my period makes me hungry but it does make me bitchy.  Let me tell you that hunger and pre-menstrual moods are not a good mix.  Around three this afternoon I went into the break-room to get some lemon water. The scent of lunch lingered, taunting me. I couldn’t help it. Anger filled my head. I actually got pissed at all those people who got to eat. Damn eaters.

I think it might be a good idea to stop fasting when my period is approaching.

Character Interview: Trinity

Interviewer:  “Trinity, you made it.”

Trinity:  “Hi.”

Gaar:  “I hope Mirra didn’t scare you too much.”

Interviewer:  “No, uhmm, not at all.”

Mirra:  “He ask Mirra questions.  They stupid but they no hurt Little One.”

Trinity:  “Thank you, Mirra for protecting me.”

Interviewer:  “Can you tell me a little about yourself.”

Trinity:  “Like what?”

Interviewer:  “Anything.  Your life, your home, anything at all.”

Trinity:  “I guess the thing about me that you would find most interesting is that my mom’s a Producer and my dad’s a House Servant.”

Interviewer:  “How did that affect your life?”

Trinity:  “I was raised with Producers but I didn’t fit in with them.  Even though I hid my claws and fangs, there wasn’t much that I could do about my smaller size and different colored eyes.  I wanted to live with my father but couldn’t because he works for the Almightys and they might see the House Servant in me.”

Interviewer:  “Why would that be so bad?”

Trinity:  “Interclass breeding is strictly prohibited.”

Interviewer:  “Why?”

Trinity:  “I don’t know.  It just is.  We aren’t allowed to question the rules.”

Interviewer:  “Did you have any friends?”

Trinity:  “Travis, until they took him.”

Interviewer:  “Who took him and where did they take him?”

Trinity:  “The Almightys took him.  He didn’t make the Harvest List so he was taken away with the other Listers.  I don’t know where they take them, no one does.”

Interviewer:  “What do you think happens to them?”

Trinity:  “Some say they are taken to other camps to keep our bloodlines pure.  Others say that something bad happens to them.  [glances at Gaar].  I’m going to find out what happens to them before they can take me.”

Interviewer:  “You believe that you will be a Lister?”

Trinity:  “I know that I will.  They only let the perfect  examples of Producers stay in camp and breed.  [exposes her claws]  I am far from a perfect Producer.”

Mirra:  “You better than others.”

Trinity:  “Thank you, but I am not a very good Producer.” [retracts her claws].

Gaar:  “Mirra’s right.  You’re better than the Producers.  You can survive in the forest, Producers can’t.”

Trinity:  “Maybe, we should get back to the interview.”

Interviewer:  “Of course.  Do you think that you’ve turned out the way your parents expected?”

Trinity:  “I don’t know.  I guess so.  I work hard and am kind.  That’s important to them.  Mom did hope that I’d make the List.  I’m good with the soil and plants which is why they kept her, but I don’t think that they’ll keep us both.  She’s sad that I’ll be leaving.  I’m the last of her offspring.”

Interviewer:  “What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?”

Trinity:  “That’s hard.  I’ve known the Producers in camp my entire life.  They don’t really like me.  They sense the differences somehow.  I did just meet Gaar and Mirra.”

Gaar:  “We didn’t eat you so I’d say you make a good first impression.”
Interviewer:  [clears his throat]  “What do you think others feel about you after they know you for a while?”

Trinity:  “Like I said, the Producers, most of them, don’t like me.  Gaar and Mirra like me but I think I annoy Gaar a bit with all my questions.”

Gaar:  “Damn House Servant in you.  Never met a more curious creature.”
Interviewer: “What are you most proud of about your life?”

Trinity:  “I…I don’t know.  I guess that I’d have to say that I’m proud of how well I’m doing in the forest.  My survival lessons.”

Gaar:  “Need to do better.”

Trinity:  “I’m trying…”

Interviewer:  “What are you most ashamed of in your life?”

Trinity:  [eyes well up with tears]

Mirra:  “Little One no answer you question.”

Interviewer:  “Of course.  Let’s skip that one.  I don’t want to make you upset.  Really.  I don’t.”

Trinity:  “No.  [touches Mirra’s arm]  I’ll answer it.  I should have done something when they took Adam for the Special List.  He was only a baby.  He cried for me and Mom.”

Gaar:  “There was nothing you could have done to stop them from taking your baby brother.”

Trinity:  “I should have tried.”

Gaar:  “Then you’d be dead.”

Interviewer:  [clears his throat again]  “What are you most afraid of?”

Trinity:  “Being alone.  Never finding someone…a friend, a mate, a relationship like my mom and dad have.”

Interviewer:  “Describe your ideal mate?”

Trinity:  “He would be my friend.  He would accept me for who I am. [exposes claws again]  He’d accept everything about me.”

Interviewer:  “Do you have anyone in mind for that role?”

Trinity:  [blushes]  “No. Not really.  I mean there is someone who I met but he’s…well, it would never work between us.”

Interviewer:  “Why is that?”

Trinity:  “I can’t explain.  What’s the next question?”

Interviewer:  “What does he look like?  Where did you meet?”

Trinity:  “I…I can’t say.”

Mirra:  [growls]

Interviewer:  “Okay.  Next question.  What do you believe about Araldo (God)?”

Trinity:  “Araldo is kind and loving.  He looks out for us and helps us when things are tough.” 

Gaar and Mirra:  [snort back a laugh]

Trinity:  “You can believe in your harsh nature god, but I believe in Araldo.”

Interviewer:  “What do you suppose Araldo thinks of you?”

Trinity:  “I hadn’t thought about that.  I suppose he sees that I am kind.  I do have a bit of a temper though.”

Gaar:  “A bit?”

Trinity:  “You should talk.  Anyway, I don’t think he blames me for being a mixed blood.  I mean, he shouldn’t.  He created me.  Right?”

Interviewer:  “I don’t know.  What do you believe?”

Trinity:  “No.  He wouldn’t be ashamed of me for being half and half.”

Interviewer:  “How do you feel about your life right now and what would you change?

Trinity:  “I like living free in the forest but I don’t like having to worry about being eaten by predators.  I wish my mom, dad, Remy, Troy and Travis could be with me out here, but safe.”

The Need To Touch, To Connect

Click here to I’m lonely. I’ve said it before. It hasn’t changed.
 
I can go weeks without touching another human being.  I don’t mean in a sexual way, but the casual touch—a brushing of a hand across a shoulder to signify passing, a hug as a greeting, holding hands, or even sitting next to someone closely enough so that you feel their nearness and warmth
 
I don’t think I’m alone in my loneliness.
 
We live in a world filled with billions of people and yet most of us touch no one.  We’ve created a culture of solitude by moving away from the cities of our parents, our roots.  We’ve surrounded ourselves with strangers and electronic friendships and lost all physical connections to one another.
 
I see what use to be when I visit my mother. She is of a different generation, a different world.  When she talks to the clerk at the store, she knows that person’s heritage. She touches that clerk’s hand and it’s not weird; it’s friendly, comforting.
 
I never experience that.  In my profession (in most professions) we don’t touch.  There are no friendly hand touches, elbow nudges or pats on the back.  The threat of being sued or taken to human resources has instilled in us a fear of touch.
 
Humans are tactile animals. We need to touch and be touched.  We need contact.  It isn’t surprising that so many of us have pets at home.  At least with them, we can touch with no fear of reprisals.